How close may I fly to people?

Know the horizontal distances the Regulations require, know that Division V permits flying closer only because a manufacturer has declared the aircraft fit to do it, and know how the safety objective differs between operating near people and operating over them.

Distance from people is measured horizontally and at any altitude, which is what makes climbing over a crowd an irrelevant answer to a distance question. CAR 901.26

• You know whether you are operating under Division V, because the base distances are stated "unless the operation is conducted under Division V". CAR 901.26
• You know whether the aircraft has a declaration covering operations near or over people, because that is the only thing that permits the closer distances. Std 922.05 Std 922.06
• You know the aircraft's operating manual, because the manufacturer's limitations for those operations are published there. Std 922.05

Unless the operation is conducted under Division V, no pilot shall operate a small remotely piloted aircraft in a VLOS operation at a distance of less than 100 ft (30 m), measured horizontally and at any altitude, from any person not involved in the operation; or a medium aircraft at a distance of less than 500 ft (152.4 m) on the same basis. CAR 901.26

Two features of that rule are worth holding on to. The distances are horizontal, so altitude does not create compliance; and the qualifier is "not involved in the operation", so who counts as involved is a question with an answer rather than an impression. CAR 901.26

Division V's application section lists the operations that come closer than the base rule: the operation of a small aircraft in a VLOS operation at a distance of less than 100 ft (30 m) but not less than 16.4 ft (5 m) from a person not involved, and the operation of a small aircraft at a distance of less than 16.4 ft (5 m). CAR 901.62

Those two bands are the ones the two standards in Standard 922 govern, and both depend on a declaration submitted by the manufacturer confirming the system is fit for that kind of operation. Std 922.05 Std 922.06

So the answer to "may I fly closer?" is not a piloting judgement. It is a question about the model, answered by the manufacturer's declaration. Std 922.05

The prohibition that makes this a rule rather than advice is section 901.69, and it is worth reading because it names the operations in a list: no pilot shall conduct them unless a declaration to the Minister has been made in respect of that model of system and in respect of each of the technical requirements set out in Standard 922 that is applicable to the operation. The list includes the VLOS operation of a small aircraft in controlled airspace, at less than 100 ft (30 m) but not less than 16.4 ft (5 m) from a person not involved, and at less than 16.4 ft (5 m). CAR 901.69

Two features of that section carry the weight. The declaration is per model, not per flight, and it is per applicable technical requirement, so a declaration covering one standard does not cover another. CAR 901.69

For operations near people, the design must be assessed to show that the probability of occurrence of any single failure which may result in severe injury to a person on the ground within 30 m of the aircraft while in operation is remote. The point is to protect people not associated with the operation from severe injury or death resulting from unreliable or unsafe system designs. Std 922.05

There are two technical requirements to be verified before the declaration is made, and beyond them the manufacturer must publish all associated limitations for operations near people — speed limits and allowed operational modes among them — in the operating manual. Std 922.05

For operations over people — within 5 m — the bar is higher, and the wording changes. The design must be assessed to show that it precludes the occurrence of any single failure which may result in severe injury to a person on the ground within 5 m; in addition, any failure combinations which may result in severe injury must be remote. Std 922.06

Read the two standards side by side and the difference is the whole point:

	Near people (30 m to 5 m) Std 922.05	Over people (less than 5 m) Std 922.06
Technical requirements	Two Std 922.05	Three Std 922.06
Single failure causing severe injury	Probability must be remote Std 922.05	Design must preclude it Std 922.06
Failure combinations	—	Must be remote Std 922.06
Manual must contain	All associated limitations, e.g. speed limits and allowed modes Std 922.05	The means to prevent exceeding operating limits Std 922.06

"Remote" is a probability requirement; "preclude" is a design requirement. Flying over someone is a stronger claim about the aircraft than flying near them. Std 922.06

The AIM treats "not involved in the operation" as a category with content. It lists construction site or mine workers, film crews, and wedding guests and others involved in a wedding — facility staff and caterers included — as examples of people involved. They are part of the operation if they have been briefed on the RPA hazard and have the opportunity to leave the site if they are uncomfortable with it. AIM 3.2.14 AIM 3.4.4

Two further points sit on either side of that definition:

• People inside vehicles or inside buildings are not factored into the 30-metre horizontal distance rule. AIM 3.2.14
• Even where the distance rule does not apply — vehicles, buildings, crew, involved people — the operation must still be conducted safely. CAR 900.06

The AIM also puts the planning duty on the pilot: it is the pilot's responsibility to plan the route so the aircraft does not come within 30 m of an uninvolved person, and to have contingency plans for the case where one comes within 30 m of the operation. AIM 3.2.14

Situation	Distance required
Small aircraft, VLOS, not under Division V	Not less than 100 ft (30 m) horizontally, at any altitude CAR 901.26
Medium aircraft, VLOS, not under Division V	Not less than 500 ft (152.4 m) CAR 901.26
Small aircraft under Division V, near people	Less than 30 m but not less than 16.4 ft (5 m), with a manufacturer's declaration CAR 901.62 Std 922.05
Small aircraft under Division V, over people	Less than 16.4 ft (5 m), with a manufacturer's declaration CAR 901.62 Std 922.06
Single failure causing severe injury within 30 m	Probability must be remote Std 922.05
Single failure causing severe injury within 5 m	Design must preclude it; failure combinations must be remote Std 922.06
People inside vehicles or buildings	Not factored into the 30 m rule AIM 3.2.14
Involved persons	Briefed on the hazard and able to leave AIM 3.2.14

Warning The distance is horizontal, measured at any altitude. Climbing does not increase your distance from a person, and "I was 100 feet up" is not an answer to "how far were you from the crowd?" CAR 901.26

Symptom	Likely cause	What to do
You want to fly over a crowd with a declared aircraft	Over-people flight needs the 922.06 declaration for that model	Check the declaration covers it, and the manual's limits Std 922.06
You assumed altitude created separation	The measurement is horizontal	Plan the horizontal route CAR 901.26
You flew over a building at 20 m	Buildings and vehicles are not counted in the 30 m rule	Still operate safely AIM 3.2.14
Your declared aircraft's manual has speed limits for near-people flight	The manufacturer must publish those limitations	Respect them Std 922.05
A wedding party is under your flight path	Guests and staff can be "involved" if briefed and free to leave	Brief them, or keep the distance AIM 3.2.14
A member of the public walks toward your operation	The pilot needs contingency plans for exactly this	Have and use them AIM 3.2.14

Practise: Operations near and over people

• CAR 901.69 — Declaration — Permitted Operations

• CAR 900.06 — Reckless or Negligent Operation

• CAR 901.26 — Horizontal Distance

• CAR 901.62 — Application

• Standard 922 s.922.05 — Operations near people

• Standard 922 s.922.06 — Operations over people

• AIM RPA 3.2.14 — Horizontal Distance

• Consolidation: CARs current to 2026-09-21